Wireless check-row attachment for corn-planters.



J. W. TRADER, JR. A WIRELESS CHECK ROW ATTACHMENT FOR CORN PLANTERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

Patented July 20. 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' J. W. TRADER, JR.

' WIRELESS CHECK ROW ATTACHMENT FOR CORN PLANTERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

' 928,822. Patented July 20, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J'. W. TRADER, JR. WIRELESS CHECK ROW ATTACHMENT FOR 001m PLANTERS.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

Patented July 20, 1909.

3 SHEETS-BHEET 3.

, JOHN w. TRADER, n.,' or $EDALIA, MISSOURI.

wmELnss oimc'icnow A'r' acmmn'r FOB- conn-rmn mns Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Iuly20, 1909.

Application filed November so, 1908. Serial no. 465,031.

To all wheat "it may concern:

Be it known that I, J 01 m W. TRADER,'JI'.,

- a citizenof the United. States, residing at.

Sedalia, in the county of .Pettisand State.

of Missouri, have invented a new and useful. \Vireless Check-Row Attachment for Corn- Planters, of which the following'i's a specifi-- cation.

The'invent-ion relates toimprovements iii Cl'IQCkI'OW attachments for: cornplanters.

The object of the present invention isto improve the construction of check row attachinei'its' for corn planters, and to-provide' .a simple,'inexpensive and efficient check row attachment, adapted to be readily applied to various makes and styles of corn planters,

and capable .of obviating the many incon-- VGIHGIICBS resulting from the use of a wire,

pingthe cornat intervals-the" desired distance. w

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of this character, which willeiiable corn tobe evenly checked on all kinds of ground, and which, should the planter get out of check at any time by reasonof its traveling over uneven ground or other bad places, will be capable of being readily repositioned-in proper check at any point between the ends of the row.

With these and other objects'in view, the invention consists in the construction and vnovel combination ofparts hereinafter fullydtscri'bed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings-and pointed out in theela'inis' hereto appended it being understood that various changesin the form, proportion.

size and minor details. of construction,

within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of tlie advantages of the in veiition.- r

In the drawings :I*igure 1 is alongitudiiial'sectionah view of a portion of a corn planter fii oiflided with a check row attachment. constructed in accordance with this nvention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the actuating tappet wheel being disconnected from the driving means to enable it to be arranged properly with relation to the 'iiiarking and" droppingjdevice. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the opposite side of' the attachment. Fig. i-s'a transverse sectional'view ()li fll l1!.14.4 of- F 1g. 1.- Fig.

, Sis a-detailv ii w, 'iliiistrating the construct- V a I tioii for connecting the tappet wheel with the ratchet wheel. Fig. 6 is; a detail horizontal sectional view, showing a portion of the tappetwheel-and the-'inarker-actiiating on tappet engaged lever, illustrating the man mechanism; Fig. .7 is a detail view of the The attachment comprises in its construction a .1atchet wheel 1, designed to be mounted"on the shaft or axle 2.of the and susceptible also of adjustment for drop- .ner of mounting the-springfinger. -Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailfSect-ional viewon the line 8+8 of Fig. '2. Fig. 9 is a, detail perspective view of the bracket upon which the planter, and adapted, when the shaft or axle rotates, to be keyed or similarly fixed to the same, but'when the wheel 3 turns on the axle wheel 3 by inner and outer clamping collars land Sand connecting bolts (5', which extend 'through the wheel between the spokes thereof. The bolts pierce the ratchet wheel 1..

which. is clamped between the heads of the bolts and nuts 6*. while the collars are held against the end portions of the hub by nuts 6", arranged on the bolts and. engaging the outer faces of the collars; -Vhen the ma chine moves forwardly, rotary motion communicated to the ratchet wheel through its connection with the wheel 3' of the planter, and the ratchet wheel actuates a tapp'etavheel 7, loose on the hub at the ratchet wheel 1 andequipped' at dian'ietrically opposite points with levers 8, substan,- tially parallel with each other and'pr'ovided at an intermediate point with pawls 9v for engaging: the ratchet wheel. 'l-he doubleengageinent, of the pawls with the ratchet wheel enables the latter a to. positively actuate the tappetwheel-withoutperinitting the latterto jump forward more rapidly than the ratchet wheel. The'ipawls 9 are beveled-at, I

one side and shouldered at the oppositeside;

and they are arranged toperinita free backward rotary movement of the'ratchet wheel.

so that the attachment will. not be affected;

by any retrograde rotation of the wheel-3311 backing or turning the planter. Jiilso the arrangement of the :pawls will permit the- 1 tappet wheel-to be rotated forwardly bytl-ie- '1 1o operating mechanism hereinafter described,

without disengaging the said pawls from the ratchet wheel.

- lhe levers 8 are pivoted to the-tappet wheel 7 by pins-10. orother suitable fast-ening devices, located at the opposite ends of the levers 8,.each lever having one end free and connected by a link 11 with a radially arranged lever 12, mounted'bet-ween the hub and the periphery of the tappet wheel in the opening orspace between the spokes and provided with an outwardly projecting arm or portion 13, extending beyond theperiphcry of the tappet wheel and adapted to be operated by the means hereinafter described to disengage the pawls from I the ratchet wheel to permit an independentbackward or forward movement of the tappet wheel for setting the check row attachment. The

radially. arranged levers 12 and lcvers' 1'5 hereinafter described are connected by a ring 14, located atone side of thetappet wheel and adapted when oneof the radially arranged levers is oscillated to cause the other levers to move in unison for disengag ing both of the pawls from the ratchet wheel. located at approximately diametrically opposite points, and the tappet wheel is also provided with the radially arranged levers 15, located at points betweenthe levers '12- and pivotally connected attheir inner ends with the' hub portions of the tappet. wheel and at intermediate points with the ring 14. The

hub portion of the tappet wheel is provided" with projecting ears 16, located in the space between the spokes and receiving the pivots 17 for mountiiig the radially arranged levers.

l2 and 15 on the tappet wheel. The pawls 8' are maintained normally in engagement with the ratchet wheel- .1 by means of' coiled springs 18, locatedadjacent to thefree ends of the levers 8 and connected with the same and with the hub portion of the tappet wheel. \Vhen the lever 8 are moved away from the ratchet wheel to disengage the pawls therefrom, the springs 18 are dis tended and operate to return the pawls to the ratchetwheel, when the levers are released and free to move.

at. the front and shouldered attheir rear ends and adapted to be engaged bya laterally projecting stud or portion 20 of a pivoted dog 21, mounted on an operating lever 22 and connected by a link 23 with a latch lever 24. The operating lever is pivoted or fulcrumed on the shaft .or axle 2, and it extends upward therefrom, being provided' at its upper end with a suitable grip or handle for the convenience of the operator.

The pawl or dog 21, which is normally ex- 1 tended outward from the operating lever at substantially right angles thereto, is con- The radially arranged levers 12 are The tappet wheel 7 is provided at it's periphery with teeth 19, beveled or rounded 'nected at its inner end with the leverby a suitable pivot .25, and-the link 23 is connected with the pawl or dog at a point between the ends of the same. .The latch lever is pivoted at an intermediate point to theoperating lever at the lower end of'the grip or handle portion. One arm of the'latch lever tion for engaging a pivoted spring-controlled finger-29 of an'angle lever 30 of mechanism for opera-ting a hill marker 31 and the seed dropping mechanism of the planter. Thetappet wheel 7 is also equipped with a plurality of notches 32, located adjacent to the outer portions of the radially arranged levers, and when it is desired to rotate the tappet wheel rearwardly, the dog 21 is engaged behind the outer portion of one of the radially. arranged levers 12 and 15, which swung forwardly independently of the tappet wheel until the dog drops into the notch 32. This operation of the radially arranged lever carries the 'pawls out of engagement with the'ratchetwheel, and the operating lever through -the interlocking 'of the dog and the notchis connected .with

the tappet wheel, which may then be rotated either backwardly or forwardly by the operating lever. Also this operation of the ratchet mechanism will throw the machine out of operation by lifting the pawls to enable it to be turned or moved from one point or place to another without operating the marker and the seed dropping mechanism.

The operating lever is also equipped with a spring, actuated dog or detent 33, connected with and controlled by a latch lever 34 andarranged to engage a toothed segment 35, which is mounted on the frame of the planter. The dog or detent and the toothed segment are adapted to lock the operating lever at any adjustment, and will hold the operating lever stationary when it is desired tomaintain the pawls or dogs of the ratchetmechanism out o engagement 'with the ratchet wheel. This will leave both Hands of the driver free to control the draft animals when turnin or transferring the machine frome one', eld or place to another.

Thelevers 24 and 34 extend from opposite sides of the operating lever and may be operated with one hand while the operator 1s grasping the operating lever. In setting the tappet wheel the latter is partially ro- .tatedby engaging'the dog 21 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel untilv one of the radial levers is brought. within reachof the operawl or "dog is at-ing mechanism, and the then engaged.v with the radially arranged;

lever and the adjacent notch 32 should it-be out of operation.

necessary to. move the tappet' wheel rear wardly or throw themachine temporarily The marker operating. and seed-dropping actuating. mechanism comprises a pair of angle levers 30 and 36 and an armor member "37,'whi'ch are connected to a bar 38 so as to move in unison.. -The-angle levers 30- and 36. are fulcrumed at their an les on a bracket or frame 39, which is suitab y secured to the frame of the planter. The angle lever '36 is locatedin front of the an is lever 30, which has one of its arms extent ing upwardly and rearwardly projecting arm is provided with i its other arm' projecting r'earwardly. .The

.a slot or bifurcation 40in which the finger 29 is mounted. The-finger is pivoted-in the slot or bifurcation by a pin 41, piercing the sides of the bifurcated portion of the angle lever and passing through the finger-29 at a point intermediate of the ends thereof. The

' inner or-front portion-:42 of the finger is longer and heavier than the outer portion,

and the-finger 1s normally inalntained 1n alinem'ent with the .rearwa-rdly extending arm of the anglelever by meansof a coiled spring 43, detachably connected at its lower end .by a hook 44 with an'eye 4'5 of the finger 29, and adapted to hold the finger in. engagement with a stoppin 46. extending across the slot or bifurcation of the angle lever and lo cated above the forwardly extending portion et2, which is provided with a notch 47; which receives the stop pin when the finger is in its normal position, The spring 43 extends pets 'or 'proje'ctions on the outer portion of the finger maintains the latter firm in engagement with the stop pin, and the pins or 1 ta-ppets are adapted to oscillate. the angle along the upright arm of the angle lever 30, and itis connected at its upper end to an eye IS of the said upwardly extending arm; The

forward rotary movement of the tappet wheel, carries'the tappets or projections into engagement with the finger at the upper edge thereof, and the pressure exerted by the taple'ver 30, which, through the connecting bar 38 communicates motion to the front angle lever 36 and the arm 37. The spring 43 is adapted to be disconnected from the eye ofthe linger 29 to permit the front. portion of the finger to swing downward.- and carry the rear portion. of the finger upward out of the path of the tappets or pro ect1ons of the -tappet wheel, whereby the machine is thrown out of operatiom v The spring, is also adapted. to; permit the tafppetsor projections to; prevent the lever 30' r 7 our being actuatedby a: rearward movementbfi the. bappet wlieelt The front ahglelever .36 is arranged in a position corresponding with that of the rear angle lever, the upwardly extending arms of the two levers being in parallelism or substantial :paralle'lism. The rearwardly extending'arm' of the front angle lever 36 is also provided with'a bifurcation 49, and .the

interposed between the upper end of the stem, and the upper wall-of the here or opening of the tubular member is adapted" to maintain the marker yieldably in an extended position. The outward movement of the marker is limited by a ,Pin orprojectio'n carried by the stem and operating in a longitudinalslot 56 of the tubular member. This construction permits the marker to yield should it come in contact with a clod or stone and injury to-the mechanism will thereby be prevented. The upper end 57 of the tubular member is reduced and is secured ,in the bifurcation 49 by the said pivot The upwardly extending arms of the angle levers 30 and 36-. are bifurcated to' receive the connecting bar 38, and they sides of the bifurcation of the lever 36 are provided with longitudinal slots58 in which is arranged the pivot or bolt 59 for connecting the lever 36 "with the bar 38.

The frontend 60 of the connecting bar is slotted or bifurcated to recei vethe upper. end of the arm 3-7, arrangedlin parallel sm with the upwardly extending arms-of the 61 of the. seed dropping mechanism "of the levers 30 and 36, mounted on t-heroclr shaft ordinary construction. The upper end of the arm 37 is'pivoted in the bifurcation of the'front end 60 of the connecting bar 38, and at each operation of the marker operating mechanism, the shaft 61: will be rocked and the seed dropped in the usual manner, .As the attachment is designed for various kinds or styles ofplanters, and as the particular constructionof the seed dropping mechanism does notconstitute. aortion of the present. invention,.;a detail escription and illustration of the seed dropping m'ecl anisni are deemed unnecessary. The arm 37 is bowed at. an intermediate port-ion add is equipped with a clamping plate 62, also bowed at an intermediate'portion andconnected with. the arm by bolts- 63; thereby .formi'nga clamp for engaging the shaft 61.

The arm is rigidly securedhto the shaft by means of. a. screw 64 piercing the arm check.

and engaging the shaft, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The lower end of the arm 37 is provided with an eye 65 to which is connected one end of a coiled spring 66, which is secured at its other end to the .frame or bracket 39. The tappet wheel swings the levers 30 and '36 and the arm 37 in one direction, andthe coiled spring 66 moves the said parts in the opposite direction and returns them-to their initial position. The. upwardly extending arms of the levers are-swung rearwardly by the tappet, wheel, and-their'forward movement is limited by a stop .67," mounted on the frame or bracket 39 and locatedin advance of and arranged to be, engaged by an upwardly extending arm of the rear angle lever 30., lVhen thefront angle lever ,is oscillated it reciprocates the marker,

propercheck at any point between the ends of a row should the planter by reason of hilly ground or other bad places get out of After the operator has planted his first row, he turns the machine around and places the planter so that'the hopper will be seven-inches in rear of the end mark of the last row. He then sets the tappet wheel so as to brin one of the pinsfo'r projections in position drives ahead. The machine will then drop the corn the properdistance and inproper check.

Having thus fully described my invention, -what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. An attachment of the class describedincluding a marker, mechanism for actuating the marker provided with means for also actuating seed dropping mechanism, 2

- ratchet wheel, a tappet wheel arranged at also actuating one side of the ratchet wheel and provided with means for actuating the said me'chan ism, ratchet mechanism carried by the tappet .wheel for engaging the ratchet wheel, and

manually operable means for rotating the" "ta ppet wheel independently of the ratchet wheel for positioning the same with relation to the first mentioned mechanism."

2. An attachment of the class described including a marker, mechanism for actuating the marker provided. with means for seed drooping mechanism, a ratchet whee one side of the ratcnet wheel and provided For actuatingthe finger 29 anda tappct wheel'arranged at with means for'actuatingthe said mechanism, ratchet mechanism carried by the tappet wheel for engaging the ratchet wheel, and manually operated mechanism for actuating the tappet wheel, said operating mechanism being provided with means for engaging the ratchet mechanism to release the tappet wheel.

3. An attachment of. the class described including a marker, mechanism for actuating the marker provided with meansfor actuatwheel for actuating the said mechanism, a ratchet wheel arranged at one side of the tappet wheel, ratchet mechanism carried by thetappet wheel and engaging the ratchet wheel and including a'lever movable to release the ratchet wheel, and an operating lever provided with means for rotating the tappet wheeland for engaging the lever to release the tappet wheel.

4. An attachment of the class described including a marker, mechanism for actuating the marker provided with means for actuating seed dropping mechanism, a tappet wheel provided with means for actuating the said mechanism and having peripheral teeth, a ratchet wheel-arranged at one side of the tappet wheel, ratchet mechanism carried bythe tappet wheel and engaging the ratchet wheel and including a lever movable.

ing seed dropping, mechanism, a tappet to release-the ratchet wheel, and an operating lever provided with a dog for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel, said dog being also adapted to engage the first mentioned lever to disengage the ratchet mechanism from the ratchet wheel;

,5. An attachment'of the class described including a marker, mechanismfor operat-"' ing the marker prov ded with means for actuating seed dropping mechanism, a tappet whee] provided with means for actuatmg the said-mechanism and havm peripheral teeth, said ratchet wheel being a so provided with a notch, ratchet mechanism carried by the tappet wheel and engaging the ratchet wheel and including a, lever movable to d1sengage the ratchet mechanismffrom the ratchet wheel and located adjacent to the said notchyand an operating lever having a dog arranged to en age the teeth of the tappetwheel and a apted also tosimultaneously engage the' first mentioned lever and the notch of the tappet wheel for bolding the ratchet mechanism out of engagement with the ratchet wheel to release the -tappet wheel.

6. An attachment of the class described comprising a marker, mechanism for oper ating the marker r'ovided'with means for actuating seed ropping mechanism,. a

rachct wheeh'a tappet wheel provided with means for actuating the said mechanism,

ratchetfmechanism mounted on thetap et wheel and includinga plurality of move le oaaaaa comprising a marker, mechanism for. operating the marker provided with means for actuating seed dropping mechanism, 'a

,ratohetwheel, a tappet wheel provided with.

means for actuating .the said mechanism, ratchet mechanlsm'includlng opposite p1vot-ed members provided with pawls for engaging the ratchet wheel, links connected 'with the members, a lever, means for connecting the leverwith the members for moving the same toward and from the ratchet wheel in unison, and an operating lever pro-.

vided with means for rotatin wheel and for engaging the ratchet mechanism.

J8. An attachment comprising a marker, mechanism for operating the marker rovided; with means for actuating seed ropping mechanism, a ratchet wheel, a tappet wheel-provided with means for actuating the said ,mechanism,

the tappet lever of'the ratchet mechanism including members provided with pawls for engaging the ratchet. wheel. lev'ers, links connecting the levers,

with the members, a spring for holding the members in engagement w th the ratchet wheel, and an operating lever provided with means for. rotating the tappet wheel and forengaging the said levers.

'9. An attachment of he class described comprising a marker, mechanism for operating the "marker provided with means for actuating seed dropping mechanism, a

' ratchet wheel, a tappet wheel provided with means for actuating the said. mechanism, ratchet mechanism lncluding opposite members provided with pawls for engaging the ratchet. wheel, radially arranged levers,

links. connecting. the radially arranged levers with-the'pivoted members, a sprlng for maintaining the said members in engagement with the ratchet wheel, a ring connecting the levers, and operating mechanism for actuatinggthe tappetwheel and for engaging theisald levers.

10. An, attachment of the class described comprising a marker, mechanism-tor, operatingthe, marker provided with means for actuating seed dropping mechanism, -a ratchet wheel, a tappet wheel provided with means for actuating the said mechanism,

.ratchetm chanism including opposite members provided with pawlsf for cngagin the ratchet wheel, radial y arrangedleversjinks conne'cting the radially arranged levers with from the ratchet wheel.

(if the class described.-

the pivoted member s, a spring for maintaining-[the said members in engagement with the ratchet wheel, a ring connecting the levers, other radially arranged levers connected with the ring, and an operatingv lever provided with means for actuating the 'tappet wheel and, for engaging the radially arranged levers to release the tappet wheel 11. An attachment of the class described including a marker, mechanism for operata ing the marker provided with means for ac-- tuating seed dropping mechanism, aratchet wheel having clamping means forengaging the hub of a planter wheel, a tappet. wheel provided withmeans for engagingthe first mentioned mechanism, ratchet mechanism mounted on the tappet wheel and engaging the ratchet wheel, and manually .'operable means forirotating the tappet wheel and for .operatingthe' ratchet mechanism-to release the tappet wheeltherefrom.

12. An attachment of the class described including a marker, mechanism for actuating the marker, a ratchet wheel, .'a clamp for con- ,necting theratchee wheel with the hub of of opposite collars located on the innerfand outer ends of the l1ub, and a plurality of bolts connecting the collars and securingthe same to the hub of the wheel. and connecting the ratchet wheel with the innercollar, a tappet Wheel fol-actuating the said mechanism,-ra tchet-mechanism' mounted on the tappet wheel for engaging the ratchet wheel, and means for rotating the ratchet wheel ,and for operating the ratchet -mechanism.

13. An attachment-of the-class described including a pair of correspondingly arranged angle levers pivoted .one in rear of the other,

levers, a tappet wheel for actuatingvthe other angle lever, an arm for actuating seed dropping mechanism, and means for connecting the arm and the angle levers together for causing the same to oscillate in unison.

14. An attachment of the class described including a pair of correspondingly arranged angle leverspivoted one in rear of the other, a marker connected with oneof the'angle levers, a tappet wheel for actuating the other ,a planter wheel, said clamp being composed angle lever, an arm'for actuating seed dropping mechanism, means for connecting the arm and the angle lever together for causing the same to oscillate in unison' and'a spring connected with the arm formoving the same and the angle levers inone direction.

15. An attachment of the class described includingapair ot' correspondingly arranged angle levers pivoted one in rear of the other, a marker connected withf-one ofthe angle levers, a tappctwheel for actuatlng the other angle lever, an arm for actuating seed drop- .pl Ilg mechanism, means for connecting the arm and the angle-lever together for causlng 105 a marker ,connected with one of the angle wardly and downwardl through the an angle leverarrange in rear of an nected with the marker, a secondangle lever the same to oscillate in unison, aspring connected with the arm for moving the same and the angle levers in one direction, and a marker arranged to be engaged by oneof the parts for limiting the movement of 'thesame by the spring.

connected with one-of the parts for moving the same in one direction.

17. An attachment of the class described including a bracket, a plurality of angle levers correspondingly mounted on the bracket and arranged one in'rear of the other, a guide carried by the-bracket, a marker operating in the guide and connected with one of the angle levers, a tappet wheel forengaging the other angle lever,'an arm designed to be connected with seed dropping mechanism for operating the same, means for connecting the arm with the levers, and a: spring connected with the arm and with the bracket.

18. An attachment of the classdescribed including a guide, a marker movable up- Cguide,

con-

connected with the first mentioned angle lever, said levers being correspondingly plV- oted and atappet wheel provided with means for operating the second angle lever.

19. An attachmentof the class described including a marker, :1 lurality of c0rrespondingly pivoted ang e levers arranged one in rear of the other and connected together, one of the angle levers carrying the marker and the other angle lever being provided with a spring-controlled member, and a tappet Wheel provided with means for engaging the spring-controlled member.

20. An' attachment of the class described including a marker, a plurality of correspondingly pivoted angle levers arranged one in rear of the other and connected together, one of the angle levers carrying the marker and the other angle lever being provided withi a pivoted member, a 5 ring detachably connected with the pivote member,

and a tappet wheel arranged to engage the pivoted member.

21.. An attachment of the class described including a marker, a lever connected with the marker for raising and lowering the same, a tappet wheel, a lever arranged to be actuated by the tappet wheel, said levers being correspondingly pivoted and located one in rear of the other, and means for connecting the said levers. c:

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own,I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN \V'. TRADER, Jn.

Witnesses lVM. H. GENTRY, T. J. STURGIS. 

